National Museum of Lithuania (LNM) presents the first exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Litvak caricaturist Lazaris Kagan.
The exhibition “Lazaris Kagan: Caricatures and Cartoons” opens on October 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the LNM Jonas Šliūpas Museum, Vytauto St. 23A, Palanga — the very town where, in 1932, Kagan held his first exhibition and began a successful but tragically short-lived career.

Critics attacked, but the public admired

Lazaris Kagan (1910–around 1941) was one of the most intriguing and ambitious caricaturists in interwar Lithuania. In the summer of 1932, the 22-year-old artist held his first solo exhibition in Palanga, laying the foundation for a successful artistic career. Although Kagan was often criticized for his “too gentle” caricature style, the public adored his works and flocked to his exhibitions. He stood out for his ability to blend irony with elegance — even when depicting politicians or celebrities, his portraits retained a tone of respect.

At first, Kagan’s drawings were published in tabloid newspapers, but soon they appeared in the leading newspapers and magazines of the time. In 1931, Kagan won the caricature competition organized by the Latvian Olympic Committee, which opened the door to international recognition — his cartoons were published in Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, and Denmark. In Sweden, Kagan held an exhibition at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, and in 1939, he published an album featuring one hundred portraits of Scandinavian politicians, artists, and athletes.

The last page and a creative rebirth

The Second World War cut short Kagan’s artistic journey. His last known cartoon was published in a Latvian periodical in 1941. After that, all traces of the artist disappear.

Nearly a century later, Kagan’s works return to the town where his artistic path began. This time, however, it is the first exhibition devoted not only to his art but also to his life. Visitors will see Kagan’s works gathered from Lithuanian memory institutions and private collections — from his early sports-themed cartoons to his refined caricatures of cultural figures.

“I hope the exhibition will bring visitors joy and laughter, but also help them appreciate how vitally important freedom of creative expression is — the freedom to criticize and caricature when it is justified. Especially in times when society is protesting because it feels that this freedom can be lost if it is not protected,”
says Nijolė Laužikienė, Director of the LNM Jonas Šliūpas Museum.

Events accompanying the exhibition

At the opening on October 30, caricaturist, illustrator, and animator Ramūnas Vaitkus will create caricatures of event participants, which they will be able to take home as souvenirs — a tribute to Kagan, who himself loved to sketch caricatures of his exhibition visitors.

On November 6, art historian and Lithuanian Culture Research Institute PhD candidate Jovita Jankauskienė will present the history of caricature as a genre and invite visitors to a discussion titled “Caricature – Art or Genre?” The exhibition will also feature guided tours led by curator Dr. Evelina Bukauskaitė. On November 30, museum friends and the local community are invited to a warm evening of togetherness featuring a discussion on community as a stimulus for creativity. The evening will be enlivened by the joyful Litvak klezmer music group Rakija Klezmer Band.

Young visitors, families, and school groups are invited to take part in educational programs and creative workshops designed to nurture creativity, empathy, and critical thinking in an atmosphere of laughter.

In the workshop “Faces That Speak,” participants will explore the art of caricature, study Kagan’s works, and complete creative tasks at exhibition stops — creating caricatures of themselves and their friends.
In “Between Laughter and Truth,” the museum will invite discussions on what distinguishes a friendly caricature — a humorous depiction that highlights a person’s traits and character — from drawings that express mockery or bullying.
In the creative workshop “Sticky Portraits,” families will be invited to playfully stylize and caricature their own portraits and those of Jonas Šliūpas’s family.

The Lithuanian National Museum’s exhibition “Lazaris Kagan: Caricatures and Cartoons” opens on October 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the LNM Jonas Šliūpas Museum (Vytauto St. 23A, Palanga).
More information about the exhibition and its accompanying events is available on the museum’s website: lnm.lt.